Seven charities to receive public donations from Royal Wedding

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have selected seven charities that the public can donate for in celebration of their wedding.

The couple, who have no affiliation with the seven charities selected, say they do not want presents, and would prefer donations to the seven organisations, which they say reflect their shared values.

In a statement, the Royal household said: “Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle are incredibly grateful for the goodwill shown to them since the announcement of their engagement and are keen that as many people as possible benefit from this generosity of spirit.

"The couple have therefore asked that anyone who might wish to mark the occasion considers making a donation to charity, rather than sending a wedding gift.”

Prince Harry will marry Markle, an actor and humanitarian, on 19 May at Windsor Castle.

The charities chosen by the couple are:

The Children’s HIV Association (CHIVA)

Crisis

Myna Mahila Foundation

Scotty’s Little Soldiers

StreetGames

Surfers Against Sewage

The Wilderness Foundation.

Jon Sparkes, chief executive of Crisis, the national charity for homeless people, said: “We are hugely grateful that Prince Harry and Ms. Markle are asking the public to support Crisis as they celebrate their wedding.

“Homelessness is one of the most urgent issues of our time, but at Crisis we know what it takes to end it. Donations will help us to support more people to leave homelessness behind through our housing, employment, education and advice services across the country, and to campaign for the changes needed to solve the homelessness crisis once and for all.”

Surfers Against Sewage is a national marine conservation and campaigning charity, which “inspires, unites and empowers communities to take action to protect oceans, beaches, waves and wildlife”.

Hugo Tagholm, the charity’s chief executive, said: “Surfers Against Sewage is thrilled to be one of the charities chosen to benefit from donations marking the wedding of Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle.

“Our work as a national marine conservation charity empowers tens of thousands of volunteers annually to protect beaches for everyone. We are currently focused on tackling plastic pollution and this support will help us move towards our vision of Plastic Free Coastlines.”

Following the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011, more than £1m was donated to charity by members of the public in celebration of the occassion.